Blog - Page 2 of 2 - Allen Acupuncture and Wellness

February 1, 2018February 8, 2018

S.O.S. for Cold and Flu

Does cold and flu season have you down? Terrified of getting sick? I’ve got you covered! Here’s my inside scoop for avoiding colds and flus, plus a recipe to soothe your cough.

When you’re starting to feel sick with the FLU… head it off fast! If you have a bad sore throat and you feel achy with a fever, you can take the homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum by Boiron. It’s now carried by CVS, Walgreens, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s, just to name a few, but it’s difficult to come by this time of year, so you might want to plan ahead and order it from amazon or another online distributor. This remedy is for the FLU that is going around this time of year, and should be taken as directed on the box especially during the first 24-48 hours.

If it’s a COLD, not the flu, you might have a headache, more chills than fever, and the throat can slightly hurt or feel phlemy (yes, I just made up that word). The best homeopathic remedy for a cold is “Cold Calm” by Boiron. Taken as directed, it can really head off a cold before it gets bad.

Supplements I use to boost the immune system:

Zinc

Echinacea

Vitamin D

These supplements help boost the immune system, which is what you want when trying to fight either a cold or flu. Use them as directed. Just FYI, Echinacea cannot be taken long-term.

Essential Oils can help boost your immune system. There is one from a company called Young Living that is excellent at helping the body fight illnesses called “Thieves”. Whole Foods carries a knock-off brand called “Medieval Mix”. Be aware that all essential oils are not created equal. Some are not meant to be put on the body, and some come with diluting directions. Once diluted properly, Thieves can be rubbed on the bottom of the feet, at the hairline on the neck or even the skin of the front of neck to help reduce sore throat symptoms (not ingested). It can also be used in a diffuser to help kill viruses in the air of your home or office.

Acupuncture is great for fighting a cold or flu. It can help boost the immune system, regulate body temperature, and help organ systems function better (like the respiratory system). If you’re still needle-squeemish, there are therapies available that are needle-less like cupping, acupressure, and lasers. There are also specific formulas of Chinese herbs that are very helpful for colds and flus and can be tailored to your exact body and symptoms. These formulas don’t interfere with most medications or even the flu shot.

If you are already sick and need some relief, try making this tea:

“Stop the Cough Tea”

In 1-2 cups of hot water, combine the following:

Juice squeezed from 1/2 a lemon

1 – 3 tsp. honey

2-3 small pieces of ginger

This tea can be sipped throughout the day to help calm the cough. And it tastes pretty great, too!

Hopefully, you can find some information in this post to help you in your fight against the cold or flu this season. Here’s to Better Health for a Better You!

January 3, 2018

Homemade Remedy for Indigestion

Do you suffer from digestion problems? Acid reflux or GERD? Heartburn or indigestion? Bloating after meals?

Here’s a food therapy tea to help!

Sara’s “Tummy Tea”

3-4 quarter-sized pieces of fresh (peeled) ginger

1/4-1/2 squeezed lemon

2-3 inch section of grated organic orange or tangerine peel

1-2 cups hot water

Combine ingredients and dilute to taste. Sip as needed.

Better Health for a Better You!

November 21, 2017November 21, 2017

Exciting Announcement!

I am happy to announce that Allen Acupuncture & Wellness is now offering acupuncture injection therapy! These injections are done using a small (traditional) hypodermic needle to give vitamin, saline or homeopathic injections into acupuncture points to stimulate the points, give the body important nutrients, or homeopathic healing. See the “Specialties” listing for Injection Therapy or read the information below:

Injection Therapy: these treatments use sterile vitamin, saline or homeopathic solutions with a traditional hypodermic needle. Vitamin B-12 shots are offered to help boost the immune system–great for cold and flu season. Acupuncture-point injections of saline solution or homeopathic injectables can relieve pain in a faster and deeper way than just acupuncture needles to relieve spasms, stop pain, treat neuralgia, or even start the healing process for muscles, tendons, and tissues injured by trauma or chronic disease. Injectables are fantastic for back or joint pain, digestive problems, weak immune systems, and so many other issues!

I look forward to helping people even more with this additional therapy I am now able to offer! Call 561-922-7535 or fill out the contact form on the sidebar for more information. May you have “Better Health for a Better You!”

November 8, 2017

Help! I’m getting sick…

Everyone knows that awful feeling… Those first twinges of a sore throat or difficulty swallowing. Maybe it’s the slight headache with some tightness in the shoulders, or a unusual chill or extra sneeze… Whatever your first symptoms are, there’s something you can try to prevent illness.

The first line of defense is to go see your acupuncturist. They can help properly diagnose what’s going on in your body and help boost your immune system to fight off the invasion. Think of the cost-savings of NOT missing work, times however many people live in your house, plus the doctor copays and prescriptions… It’s well worth the visit.

But if you can’t do that, it’s okay. I have a FOOD THERAPY recipe for you that my kids even love! Take green onions/scallions and chop them into small pieces all the way down to almost the white-haired roots, at least a 1/2 cup. Combine this with a small container of organic tofu broken into small pieces in a frying pan with the oil of your choice, and stir fry them until the tofu is warm and the scallions are softened.

One addition to the recipe my family enjoys is scrambling an egg in the pan as well. It helps with the “new” tofu texture and adds a familiar flavor.

If you eat a plateful of this, your pores will open, and you’ll sweat a little, clearing your “defensive” energy channel along the spine and stimulating your immune system. And hopefully, you can avoid missing workdays, piles of used tissues, and feeling bad for days or weeks. (By the way, I keep my fridge stocked with scallions and tofu just in case–the earlier you intervene, the better the result.)

There are also acupressure points that can be massaged, but that is a discussion for another day…

October 16, 2017

Fall: Bye Bye Fork & Hello Spoon!

Fall is a season of changes. In most areas of the country, fall is a transition between the hot, humid summer days and the cold winter ones. Even in tropical South FL, the average temps decrease as well as humidity. These changes can trigger health problems if your body doesn’t adapt. You can help your body adapt by making wise food choices.

No, I’m not talking about the regular idea of healthy eating, but the idea of eating for your health. As cooler temperatures of Fall arrive, it doesn’t make sense to keep eating summer foods like watermelon and salads. Raw foods are cold in their nature, which is great for summertime to keep our interior body temperature cool despite the hot temps. But pumpkin spice drinks and foods, so popular in the fall, are popular for good reason: they have warmer natures. Think about cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg: all the spices of fall. They have a little kick to them, a little “fire”; eat or drink them, and you feel a warm sensation in your stomach. A similar effect occurs in the food temperatures we eat. Instead of salad, make a stir fry or a nice pot of vegetable soup. If cold-natured or cold-temperature summer foods are eaten out of season, they can cause indigestion, bloating, water retention, excess congestion or phlegm, and even diarrhea–as well as weaken your immune system. Instead, eat healthy, warm foods that help your body prevent disease from the inside out.

As your body begins the transition to winter, help it by choosing warmer foods. Your body will be more balanced and healthy to fight the cold and flu season, too. So, put down that salad fork and pick up your soup spoon!